Mail-delivery system



Dec. 10, 1929; L. GULBRANSEN 1,738,894

MAIL DELIVERY SYSTEM Filed July 26. 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 10, 1929. GULBRANEN 1,738,894

MAIL DELIVERY SYSTEM Filed July 26, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 6 5M ,W W (/0)? Mar e 51; I

Patented Dec. 10, 1929 UWFT LARB GULBRANEIEN; 01E MASON CITY, IOWA MAIL-ZDELIVERY SYSTEM Application filed July 28, 1928. Serial No. 295,448.

The object of my invention is to provide a mail delivery system of simple, durable and comparatively inexpensive construction.

A further object of my invention isto provide a mail delivery system especially adapted for delivering mail to residents, the system being devised to save the time of the delivery man.

Still a further object is to provide mail boxes of special construction along the delivery route and means associated with a vehicle such as an automobile for delivering mail to the mail boxes successively and for picking up letters from them to be posted.

More particularly it is my object to provide in connection with the vehicle, an arm adjustably arranged so that it can be with drawn into the automobile for applying a mail holder thereto and may then be extended from the automobile to position for coacting with the mail box as it travels along the road and depositing the mail holder therein, the mail box itself having means for holding a similar mail holder in which a letter to be posted may be positioned whereby the second holder may be picked up by the vehicle and the arm may then be withdrawn by the mail carrier and the letter to be posted removed t-horefron'i.

With these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in thy claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Although the invention is susceptible of a variety of embodiments, it is unnecessary to fully describe and illustrate more than one in order to give a full understanding of the invention both from its structural and functional standpoints. Accordingly, I have illustrated a preferred and desirable embodiment of the invention in the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of an automobile illustrating in connection therewith, my mail delivery system showing the automobile in two positions as before delivering mail and 0 after picking up mail.

Figure 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Figure 1, illustrating the manner of cooperation between the automobile and the mail box for delivering the mail.

Figure 3 is a sectional view similar to the left half of Figure 2, illustrating the delivery arm withdrawn into the automobile for placing the mail to be delivered thereon or for removing mail to be posted therefrom.

Figure lis a sectional view on the line 4-4- of Figure 2, illustrating the interior construction of the mail box and showing the delivery arm in one position relative thereto.

Figure 5 is a similar view showing the delivery arm in another position relative to the mail box.

Figure 6 is a side elevation of the mail box showing the delivery arm in cross section as indicatedlby the line 6-6 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is an underside sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 4.

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the mail holders used in connection with my device; and

Figure 9 is a perspective View of a mounting means for the delivery arm, the mounting means being secured to the vehicle.

On the accompanying drawings I have used the reference character A to indicate gen-- erally an automobile. A delivery arm B 59 extends from a side of the automobile A and is adapted to deliver mail to the mail box C and to pick up letters therefrom.

On the automobile A, a supporting device for the delivery arm B consisting of a pair of bars 10 and 12 is mounted. The bar 16 is provided with a notch 14 and the bar 12 with an opening 16. The bars 10 and 12 may be secured to the door 18 of an automobile by means of clamping bolts 20. It is necesto sary of course, to have the glass in the door in lowered posit-ion as clearly obvious upon inspecting the sectional view in Figure 2. Qther types of supports, of course, may be provided for the delivery arm 13 and I have shown the bars 10 and 12 only by way of illustration.

The arm B consists of a bar 22 on the outer end of which a shoe 24 is mounted. The bar 22 is slidable through the opening 16 in the bar 12 and is slidably and removably arranged in the notch 14. The shoe 24 is provided with a projection 26, a backwardly opening hook 28 and a backwardly opening spring hook 30. The spring hook 30 is adapted to receive a. mail holder D. The mail holder D consists of a rod 32, and a plate 34 mounted on spring arms 36 which are coiled around the ends of the rod 32.

The spring arms 36 then extend backwardly as indicated at 38 and are provided with a cross member 40 which is resiliently heldin engagement with the plate D. Mail such as a magazine or newspaper 42 or a letter 44 to be posted, may be placed on the plate 34 be tween the plate andthe cross bar 40. An opening .46 is provided in the plate 34 for conveinence hanging theholders D on a hook or nail for sorting the mail.

The mail boxCconsists of a bottom member 48, side members and 52, a top member 54 and an inclined end member 56. The remaining openings in the box C are covered by hinged lids 58, and 62. The lids 58, 60 and 62 areadapted to swing in the directions indicated by the arrows 64, 66 and 68 respectively. The lid 58is adapted to be closed by gravity and the inclined end member 56 serves as a stop forthe lower end thereof as clearly illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawbox .0 acting as a stop for'this lid. A spring 70 is providedfor closing the lid v62. An

arm 72 is secured to the box C to serve as a stop for the lid 62.

Within thebox C a guide member E is mounted. The guide member E consists of a triangular shaped top plate 74, a triangular shaped side plate 76 and a rectangular side plate .7 8.

As clearly shown in the bottom plan view illustrated in Figure 7, the side members 7 6 and 78 are closer together in the forward end of the'box than they are in the rear end thereof. The guide member E has one end pivotedas indicated at 80 and itsother end swingably. supported by a lever 82 pivoted .at 84. A yoke 86 is secured to'the plate 74 H .of the guide member E whereby the rear end ;of the lever 82 is loosely'mounted with respect to the guide member E.

Practical operation I the arrow 88 shown in connection with Figure 2 and is "then tipped as indicated by the arrow 90 and as shown in Figure 3. The lower end of the arm B then rests on the floor of the automobile and the shoe 24 is in proper positionfor receiving the mail holder D with letters, a magazine or'papers 42 thereon for delivery tothe mail box C. Thearm B is then extended from the automobile as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings as the mail carrier passes the mail box C.

In a very short time, the mail carrier will develop suiiicient skill in extending the driver arm B so that it will be in alignment with the center of the mail box C to which the mail 42 is to be delivered.

In placing the holder D on the delivery arm B, the rod 32 is held by the resilient hook 30 and one edge of the plate 34 formed around the spring arm 36 rests on the upper edge of the shoe 24 when in the position shown in Figure 3. In extended position as shown in Figure 1, the plate 34 rests on the top of the shoe 24.

As the shoe 24 enters the mail box C as shown in dotted lines in Figure 4 of the drawings, the projection 26 engages the lid 58 for opening it and allowing the shoe 24 to enter the mail box. The side 52 of the box C serves as a rest on which the delivery arm B slides as clearly shown in Figure 6. The pin 32 of the mail holder D enters between the sides 76 and 78 of the guide member E and after going a certain distance, the ends thereof engage the side members 76 and 78 as shown in Figure 7 whereupon the shoe 24 in continuing to move will leave the holder D behind it.

In the full line position shown in Figure 4, it will be noted that the pin 32 is just leaving the spring hook 530 and after the shoe 24 hascleared the pin 32, the mail holder will drop onto the bottom 48 of the mail box as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5. Any variation in the distance of the shoe 2-.- from the center of the mail box C will be readily compensated for by the pivotal arrangement 80 of the guide member E so that as the shoe appreaches the narrow end of the guide member, it will be swung to one side or the other if the shoe does not enter at exactly the center of the box.

Any additional movement required to adjust the shoe 24 relative to the box C will be automatically attained by the guide member E sliding the bar 22 in the notch 14 and the opening 16 of the bars 10 and 12.

On the forward end of the guide member E, a forwardly opening spring hook 92 is provided. The hook 92 is adapted to receive the pin 32 of a mail holder D which is arranged in an inclined position as clearly shown in Figure 4 of the drawings. The mail holder D held by the hook 92 is adapted to receive a letter 44 to be posted by the mail man. As the shoe 24 continues to move after delivering the mail 42, the bar 22 will engage the spring arms 38 of the mail holder D held by the hook92 and the mail holder will be forced from the hook by the bar 22 as shown in dotted lines in Figure 5.

The forward end of the shoe 24 will then open the door 62 and the pin 32 of the mail holder having the letter 44 therein, will slide ISO down along the projection 26 and be caught by the hook 28. After the shoe 24 has left the box, the spring will close the lid 62. In the event the automobile is going at a con siderably high speed, the mail holder D may drop back of the projection 26 as shown in dotted lines in the left hand end of Figure 5 and it will be retained on the shoe by the bar 22.

It will be noted that the lid members 58, 60 and 62 are all arranged so that when closed, any water falling on any parts of the device will be shed from the box instead of entering it. The inclined end member 56 serves to guide the shoe 24 upwardly in the event that it is a little too "lowto strike the lid member 58 as it enters the box G. In such an event, the bar 22 is merely raised a little from the bottom of the notch 141: in the bar 10.

Some changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my device without departing from the real spirit and purpose of my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claims, any modified forms of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention:

1. A mail delivery system comprising a mail box, an arm for passing therethrough and means associated with said arm and said box for transferring mail from the arm to the box and from the box to the arm as the arm passes therethrough, said means comprising a tapered channel-shaped member, the flanges of which are adapted to engage the incoming mail, said member having the outgoing mail supported on its narrowest end.

2. A mail delivery system comprising a mail box, an, arm for passing therethrough and means associated with said arm and said box for transferring mail from the arm to the box and from the box to the arm as the arm passes therethrough, said box having openable cover devices to prevent rain from entering the box, said cover devices being opened by the arm as it passes through the box and means for closing the cover devices after the arm has passed through the box.

3. A mail delivery system comprising a mail box, an arm for passing therethrough transfer means associated with said arm and said box for transferring mail from the arm to the box, and means including a guide member adjustably arranged relative to the box and actuated by the arm to effect adjustment of the transfer means for insuring the deposit of the mail within the box without the necessity of the arm entering the box at an ex actly predetermined point.

i. A mail delivery system comprising a mail box, an arm for passing therethrough and means associated with said arm and said box for transferring mail from the arm to the box, said means being adjustably arranged and actuated by the arm for insuring the deposit of the mail within the box and means associated with said adjustably arranged means for holding mail to be transferred from the box to the arm.

5. A mail delivery system comprising a mail box, an arm for passing therethrough box.

6. A mail delivery system comprising a mail box, a vehicle, an arm slidably arranged on the vehicle and adapted to pass through the box and means associated with said arm and said box for transferring mail from the arm to the box, said means being adjustably arranged and actuated by the arm for i11- suring the deposit of the mail within the box.

7. A mail delivery system comprising a mail box, avericle, an arm slidably arranged.

on the vehicle and adapted to pass through the box and means associated with said arm and said box for transferring mail from the arm to the box, said means being adjustablyarranged and actuated by the arm for insuring the deposit of the mail within the box, and

means associated with said adjustably arranged means for holding mail to be transferred from the box to the arm.

8.- A mail delivery system comprising a mail box, a guide member adjustably mounted therein, avehicle, an arm thereon adapted to enter the box and adjust the guide member, said arm being slidably mounted with respect to the vehicle.

9. A mail delivery system comprising a mail box, a guide member adj ustably mounted therein, said guide member having flanges, a vehicle and an arm thereon adapted to enter the box, said armhaving a projection adapted to coact with the flanges of the guide member and thereby adjust it.

10. A mail delivery system comprising a mail box, a guide member adj ustably mounted therein, a vehicle, an arm thereon adapted to enter the box and adjust the guide member,

said arm being slidably mounted with respect to the vehicle and openable cover members on said box adapted to be opened by said arm as it passes through said box.

11. A mail delivery system comprising a mail box, a vehicle, an arm thereon adapted to pass through said box in one direction, a backwardly opening hook onsaid arm adapted to hold mail and means within said box for extracting mailfrom said hook as the arm passes through the box.

j 12. A mail delivery system comprising a .mail box, a vehicle, an arm thereon adapted .to pass through said box in one direction, a

backwardly opening hook on said arm adapted to hold mail, means within said box for extracting mail from said hook as the arm passes through the box and mail holding 10 means within said box for depositing mail held thereby onto said arm as the arm continues tofpass through the box.

13. A mail delivery system comprising, a mail box, a vehicle, an arm thereon adapted to pass through said boxin one direction, a backwardly opening hook on said arm adapted to hold mail, means within said box for extracting mail from said hook as the arm passes through the box and mail holding means Within said box for depositing mail held thereby onto said arm as the arm continues to pass through the box, said box having means to guide the arm from the time it begins to enter until the time it leaves the zfibox. n

' 1145A mail delivery system comprising a mail box, a vehicle, an'arm thereon adapted "to pass through said box in one direction, a Ibackwardly opening hook on said arm 3o adapted to hold mail, means within said box for extracting mail from said book as the arm passes'through the box and mail holding means Within 'saidfbox fordepositing mail held thereby onto said'arm as the arm con- 7 a5 tinues to pass through the box and swingable guiding means for said arm while passing through the box.

15. A mail delivery system comprising a mail box, a vehicle, an arm thereon adapted 40 to pass through said box in'one direction, a

backwardly opening hook on said arm adapted to hold mail, means within said box v for extracting mail from said hook as the arm passes through the box and mail holding means within said box for depositingmail held thereby onto-saidarm' as the arm continues to pass through the box and swingable guiding means for said arm whilepassing through the box, said arm being slidably mounted with respect to the vehicle.

16. A mail delivery system comprising a V mail box, a vehicle, an arm thereon adapted v "to pass through said box in one direction, a 'backwardly opening hook on said arm, a. mail holder adapted to be received thereby,

means Within said box to extract the mail holder from said hook, a second mail holder within said box for holding outgoing mail, said arm being adapted to engage said second Emil holder and withdraw the same from said ,DesMoines, Iowa, July 9, 1928. 1

' e LARS GULBRANSEN. 

